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This holiday season, support your hometown businesses

Editorial

Tens of millions of Americans will do most, if not all, their holiday season shopping with giant online retail operations this year. They will argue that it is more convenient or safer for them to do so rather than patronize local brick-and-mortar stores. Now, Fort Dodge will soon become home to one of Amazon’s last-mile delivery stations. The massive building is being constructed now. This is great news for the future of the community, but it is no reason to give up on the existing local retailers. Local retailers, from mom-and-pop specialty shops to the big-box stores, rely on ...

Grateful to be an Iowan

Local Columns

Every year, Thanksgiving is a time to pause and reflect on God’s endless grace and blessings. I’m grateful for my loving wife of 32 years, my four wonderful kids, friends, and neighbors. I’m thankful that Iowans have placed their faith and trust in me to represent our communities in Congress with integrity, dignity, and professionalism. I’m grateful to be an Iowan and live in the greatest state and the greatest country on Earth. Iowa is special. Neighbors look out for neighbors, our communities are strong, and our values are rooted in faith and family. I’m a fourth-generation ...

Q&A: Rural health matters

Local Columns

Q: What is the Rural Health Transformation program? A: Congress beefed up federal dollars to expand access to health care services in rural communities in the health and tax law signed in July by President Trump. The Rural Health Transformation program was designed to improve access to care, improve health outcomes, prioritize new and emergency technologies, strengthen local and regional partnerships, enhance economic opportunity, prioritize data and technology driven solutions and outline strategies to manage long-term financial solvency and operating models of rural hospitals. I led ...

Shared Thanksgiving is fine tradition

Editorial

Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday that features family, food, and yes, the occasional football game. In the spirit of the holiday, thousands of people in the Fort Dodge region gathered around tables with relatives and friends for a traditional feast on Thursday. Dining room tables throughout the area were laden with turkeys, stuffing, corn, cranberries, green bean casseroles, pies and all kinds of other delicious things. But some of our neighbors couldn’t afford such a meal. Perhaps some lost a job; perhaps others had been hit with unexpected and high medical bills. The ...

Leading, supporting & shopping local

Local Columns

People often think leadership means being the one out front, making decisions, setting the tone. And yes, that is a good chunk of what I do. But in my role, being a supporter matters just as much. Sometimes more. I’ve learned that leadership is not always about talking. A lot of it is listening. Standing beside people who are doing good work and making sure their efforts are seen. Championing causes that highlight the people who need us most. Using whatever platform I have to shine a light on issues that do not always get attention but should. And sometimes support looks very ...

Let us give thanks

Editorial

Sometimes in America, it seems as if we actually enjoy advertising our trials and difficulties. And, yes, we have had plenty of them this year. There were really trying times in the early days of our nation also. That is why America’s first formal Thanksgiving observance had far more significance to our people than today’s often perfunctory observance. With all our troubles, we Americans are among the very few people in the world who feel it necessary to officially observe a day of thanksgiving. The words of George Washington, our first president, recognized that need. His Oct. ...